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The Simpsons Use Latest Episode To Hit Back At Offended Millennials

The Simpsons Use Latest Episode To Hit Back At Offended Millennials

Thank you, come again.

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

The writers of The Simpsons have taken aim at allegations of stereotyping in their latest episode.

The episode is called "No Good Read Goes Unpunished" and seemed to take a swipe at the film The Problem with Apu that was released last year.

Comedian Hari Kondabolu's film argued that Apu Nahasapeemapetilon - Springfield's Indian shop owner - is an example of a tired stereotype that has worked its way deep into modern society's conscience.


The film featured Aziz Ansari, Whoopi Goldberg, and Kal Penn and, at the time of its release Hank Azaria - the white actor who plays Apu, said: "I think the documentary made some really interesting points and gave us a lot of things to think about and we really are thinking about it,

"Definitely anybody that was hurt or offended by it, or by any character or vocal performance, it's really upsetting that it was offensive or hurtful to anybody."

Last night, however, they were in less apologetic mood.

TruTV

Marge Simpson was shocked to discover the number of stereotypes in a book that she was reading, so set out to re-write it for 2018.

However, in rewriting it she discovered that she saps most of what was good about the book from it.

She then said, "What am I supposed to do?" before Lisa Simpson broke the fourth wall and said: "Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive, is now politically incorrect. What can you do?"

A photo of Apu then appeared in the shot with the caption: "Don't have a cow" before Marge said: "Some things will be dealt with at a later date" and Lisa added: "If at all".

This is a clear dig at the outrage that some people expressed after the Apu film was released.

Kondabolu was - perhaps understandably - quite annoyed by this jibe. He tweeted: "Wow. 'Politically Incorrect?' That's the takeaway from my movie & the discussion it sparked? Man, I really loved this show. This is sad."

He followed that tweet up with another: "In 'The Problem with Apu', I used Apu & The Simpsons as an entry point into a larger conversation about the representation of marginalized groups & why this is important.

"The Simpsons response tonight is not a jab at me, but at what many of us consider progress."


Twitter

Kondabolu has spoken at length about his love for The Simpsons, but was left disappointed by the character of Apu because he believes that it enforces negative stereotypes of South Asian people.

Azaria was asked to appear in the film, but declined out of the fear that his opinions might be misconstrued in the editing process.

Featured Image Credit: Fox/The Simpsons

Topics: TV and Film